The language of weight loss

With so much out there on the market to help us lose weight and achieve that body we are happy with, it can be all too easy to become sucked into negative language used. But what effect do the words have on us psychologically?

Terms such as treats, rewards, naughty to name a few can actually have the opposite effect of what we are trying to achieve. If we use food as a reward and punishment system what effect will that have on our self-esteem? We all know that the most basic way to lose unwanted weight is to eat healthily and to exercise regularly. What most of us don’t do is to look at the reason for the weight gain in the first place. What was the reason that a certain type of behaviour was created in the first place? Was it to protect, comfort, to feel loved, boredom, or reward to name a few. What has happened in our lives that led to needing these things when we couldn’t, for one reason or another, at the time receive it from somewhere else. Therefore, if we have not addressed the underlying reasons for this type of behaviour by then using negative terms for eating unhealthy foods are we not setting ourselves up for taking a knock to our self-esteem when we break our good intentions? By looking at the cause we can eliminate the plaster effect and make lasting changes.

So what terms can we use to help our subconscious minds make better choices?

Healthy vs unhealthy

Diet is not something we are ‘on’ diet is the food that we regularly consume, by looking at foods as healthy and unhealthy we take away the negativity surrounding food and give our minds the positivity it needs to achieve our goal and better still maintain it once it has been achieved. But just what are healthy foods? Food that has a benefit to our health. If you consider a car needs fuel to make it go, by putting in the wrong fuel it ruins the engine and will need repairs to go again. Our bodies are similar we need healthy food to function, too much unhealthy choices and our health suffers. Rather than focus on what we can’t do, let’s look at what we can do. By using positive thinking, we are more likely to succeed in our goals and accept that we are only human.

The NHS eat well guide is packed full of healthy information and guidance from experts and it is a great place to start. If you are struggling with weight loss, hypnotherapy can be a wonderful way to look at the reasons behind weight gain in the first place so that you are treating the cause and not just the symptoms. Results can be lasting, changing mindsets and the way we look at food.

About the author

I am a psychotherapeutic counsellor and hypnotherapist. I volunteer for various organisations as well as run my own busy practice. I thoroughly love the work that I do and I am based in Dunstable with easy travel links and parking. I pride myself on creating an environment where you can be yourself without judgement.